Lost the trail in a whiteout on Mount Washington

Couldn't see three feet ahead. Pulled out my phone, opened Gaia GPS, and used the offline map to find the tree line. Anyone have a better backup for zero visibility?

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3 Comments

river_scott6mo ago

What makes you so sure your phone won't fail when you need it most? Cold kills batteries and screens break. Relying on a single gadget in a whiteout is asking for trouble. You need a real map and a compass you can use by feel. Tech is a good tool but it shouldn't be your only plan.

8

the_jason6mo ago

Ever try to read a paper map with numb fingers? My backup plan is just hoping I look pitiful enough for a search party to feel sorry for me.

7

milar464mo ago

Right, because nothing says "survival mode" like trying to fold a soggy map with hands that feel like frozen sausages. I'll just pop my gloves off real quick to get a better grip in a whiteout, what could go wrong? Honestly, my backup plan is hoping my phone's "low battery" scream is loud enough to guide the search party.

2